Swiss voters reject proposal to end dehorning of cows
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS NOVEMBER 25, 2018 / 6:52 AM / UPDATED 6 HOURS AGO
Swiss voters reject proposal to end dehorning of cows
Stephanie Nebehay
3 MIN READ
GENEVA (Reuters) - Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to subsidize farmers who let the horns on their cows and goats grow rather than removing them with a red-hot iron in a procedure which critics say causes pain.
Three-quarters of Swiss cows, a national symbol and tourist attraction, are dehorned or genetically hornless.
Hornless animals are easier and cheaper to keep because they cause fewer injuries and need less space. They do not have to be tied in separate pens to prevent accidents, but this means farmers can keep fewer animals.
The initiative to preserve the dignity of livestock was led by farmer Armin Capaul, who has sparked a national debate on animal rights following a campaign which began nine years ago after he listened to his herd.
But the campaign was defeated, with nearly 55 percent of Swiss voters rejecting the proposals in the final result, the Swiss government said.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-swiss-vote-cows/swiss-voters-reject-proposal-to-end-dehorning-of-cows-idUSKCN1NU0GS
Cicada
(4,533 posts)He grew up on a farm and hated the pain of dehorning. One of his research interests is trying to find a genetic splice to produce cows born without horns. Some occur in nature.
intelpug
(99 posts)Just to point out, Hornless breeds of cows already exist.When you see pictures of cattle such as in the west without horns they weren't dehorned, they never had them to begin with. Most all mainstream cattle breeds today are naturally hornless, "polled" is the term used such as "polled angus" "polled Herefords" ect. These polled cattle have been prevalent for a couple hundred years or so. What happens is like any genetic trait it takes 2 pairs of genes to create something such as horns hair color ect early breeders didn't know about genes like we do now but they knew every now and then an animal would be born that never developed horns so they used these animals to establish more offspring that were hornless. To clarify, this scientist isn't trying to produce cows in general without horns but is trying to make it happen in breeds which up until now obviously had no polled lines within them but the science itself has ben around for hundreds of years.
athena
(4,187 posts)so that it will be easier for factories to confine, manipulate, torture, and ultimately kill that animal so that humans can eat its flesh.
Why not just stop eating the animal? Stop paying companies to torture and kill them for profit. Live your life according to your principles.
I went vegan a little over six years ago. It was the best decision Ive ever made. The only thing I regret is that I didnt do it sooner.
Cicada
(4,533 posts)Procreating with deliciously smart chicks because they are so dreamily smart changes our genes.
athena
(4,187 posts)You dont genetically engineer your child so it will be male or female, or have a certain hair or eye color, or not have strong legs or arms so you can keep it in a cage all day.
Moreover, were talking about humans breeding or genetically engineering animals to make them more profitable for the factory farm industry. How would you like corporations to genetically engineer your offspring so they will be more open to believing their advertising?
You can tell yourself as much as you want that its OK to breed, torture, and slaughter animals, but that wont make it true. And deep down, you know that.
Cicada
(4,533 posts)Look, I agree eating animals is right up there with Adolph Hitler. I am dead serious about that. Tho I dare not say that with my real name. But altering the genetics of cows so they dont have horns spares them pain. Thats a good thing. Not all changes are good but this one is. And I think it likely that my sexual attraction to super smart women pushes Homo sapiens toward greater intelligence, an alteration of our genetics. With all due respect I think you are just afraid of change. Kevin McArthy was desperately afraid to fall asleep in Invasion of the Bidy Snatchers only because he was afraid of change. Clearly the seed pods had a better way, free of all our disturbing emotions which bring us people like Donald Trump.
athena
(4,187 posts)You assumed that its the genetic engineering I have a problem with. I am a former scientist and suspect that I know a lot more about the pros and cons of genetic engineering than you do. If, instead of jumping to conclusions, you had read my posts with a bit of care, you would have seen that my problem is not with the genetic engineering but with the idea that a scientist would spend his energy working to help the factory-farm industry torture animals more easily and profitably, not to mention with the idea that a DUer would applaud him for it.
As for intelligent chicks, if you insist on mansplaining to women, refusing to listen to them, assuming you know what theyre thinking better than they do, and calling them chicks, the only kind of intelligent woman you will ever get is one who has no self-esteem or self-respect.
Cicada
(4,533 posts)The motivation for this specific genetic alteration is to spare dairy cattle the pain of having their horns removed. The scientist grew up on a dairy farm. I agree some genetic alteration is bad. I think you missed the humorous intent of some of my comments and took my comment about your fear of change as serious. Knowing the science behind gene alteration doesnt make you particularly expert in its ethics. Your comments on the evils of procedures to further meat production were preaching to the choir. The most important issue is death. Genetic alteration may cure most natural death. In my opinion you should take a broader view.